Troy Jackson, Maine's Democratic Senate candidate, is facing criticism for an ad where he sips boba tea while mocking Republican spending on ads, which has been viewed over 2 million times and widely mocked by both Democrats and Republicans on social media. The post has drawn ridicule for its perceived attempt to appeal to younger demographics at the expense of Jackson's working-class image. A recent poll shows Sen. Susan Collins leading Jackson with 49% support compared to Jackson’s 46%, within the survey's margin of error, indicating a tight race.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-30,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson, who has been emphasizing his working-class background as a fifth-generation logger, is facing criticism from both parties over a viral ad. In the ad, Jackson sips boba tea and asks "If Republicans spend $46 million on these TV ads, who’s gunna be convinced by that?" The post features emojis and mentions Susan Collins and Elon Musk, which has been viewed more than 2 million times on X. Republican communicator Matt Whitlock and NRSC Southern Regional Press Secretary Reilly Richardson mocked the ad for being tone-deaf, while Democratic strategist Steve Schale questioned its relevance given Maine's older median age electorate. Critics from both sides see the ad as unhelpful and cringeworthy, with liberal influencer Harry Sisson urging Jackson to "change it up."
Written for “Maine Senate Candidate Ad Backlash” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger who has touted his working-class bonafides on the campaign trail, is facing backlash from both sides of the aisle over a viral ad that critics are labeling as tone-deaf pandering.
asserted
critics → tout → pandering
"If Republicans spend $46 million on these tv ads, who’s gunna be convinced by that?" Jackson is asked in the ad as he sips a boba tea.
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he → spend → tea
Jackson then looks around and smiles before saying "the 1%ers" as a photo of his opponent Sen. Susan Collins and Tesla CEO Elon Musk are shown on the screen.
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photo → look → screen
The ad’s caption reads "sips boba tea" alongside a boba and wide-eyed emoji.
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caption → read → emoji
The ad’s post on X was widely mocked by Democrats and Republicans and has been viewed over 2 million times.
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post → mock → times
"Maine is the oldest median age electorate in the nation," Democratic strategist Steve Schale posted on X. "I know I’m not a DC strategist but I really, really don’t get it."
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I → post → it
"Troy Jackson needs to win but videos like this are unhelpful and cringey," liberal influencer Harry Sisson posted on X. "Please change it up!
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Sisson → need → it
"The same people that ran Mallory McMorrow's campaign into the ground are telling you to do this goofy sh**," left-wing podcaster Kyle Kulinski posted on X. "Just get out there and tell the truth and speak from the heart for economic justice and against war and stop with all this bullshit.
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Kulinski → run → bullshit
"It's a little bit funny to be desperately trying to position as working class masculine male and have gen-z women run your socials like they would run their own personals," Republican communicator Matt Whitlock posted on X.
"... ," National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Southern Regional Press Secretary Reilly Richardson posted on X.
"
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Richardson → try → X.
Weird," GOP communicator Steve Guest posted on X. "Looks like the first time that Troy Jackson has ever had boba."
"Boba tea! Just like regular people! "
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Jackson → post → people
Journalist Chris Cillizza posted on X.
"Want to remind you that Democrats were openly proud of how masculine their Maine campaign was going to be and then they ran this ad," former Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh posted on X.
Fox News Digital reached out to Jackson's campaign for comment.
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Digital → post → comment
A recent poll indicates Collins is ahead of her Democratic challenger in a crucial Senate showdown in blue-leaning Maine that could determine the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.
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that → indicate → Senate
Collins, who is running for a sixth six-year term in the Senate, stands at 49% support among likely voters, with former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee, at 46%, with 5% undecided in the New York Times/Siena poll.
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% → run → poll
The survey, which was conducted Sept. 15–22, is one of the first to indicate Collins ahead of Jackson since he replaced former Senate nominee Graham Platner in late July.
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he → conduct → July
Platner, a combat veteran and oyster farmer, won the June Democratic Senate primary in a landslide.
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Platner → win → landslide
But a month later he dropped out following an explosive report containing an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated.
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he → drop → woman
Platner denied the report but stepped aside.
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Platner → deny → report
Collins slightly trailed Platner in most polling at the time he ended his campaign.
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he → trail → campaign
Jackson, who campaigned alongside Platner earlier this year as he unsuccessfully ran for governor, won a special nominating convention to fill the party's vacant Senate nomination.
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he → campaign → nomination
The poll release came as Collins pushed back against a report by ProPublica that the FBI sought to launch a pay-to-play investigation examining Collins and others.
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FBI → come → Collins
The investigation was later dropped and no one working for Collins was charged.
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one → drop → Collins
Collins ripped the report as "offensive" and a "partisan hit job" orchestrated by Democrats.
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Collins → rip → Democrats
Jackson took to social media to claim that "Susan Collins is blatantly corrupt."
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Collins → take → media
Collins' advantage over Jackson in the new survey comes even as 55% of those questioned said they prefer Democrats to control the Senate next year, with 43% saying they'd like the GOP to retain the majority.
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GOP → come → majority
Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
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Steinhauser → contribute → report
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